A New Look Kitchen on a Budget
With the advent of a superb new generation of hand and power tools, DIY is no longer about fixing a wonky melamine shelf to the wall or tiling the bathroom in what looks like glazed crazy paving.
Today, it really is bringing quite serious property development within reach of ordinary people, even if the property being developed is the home you’re living in.
There are plenty of home improvement skills you can teach yourself – you don’t have to be a master builder or an architect. In today’s credit squeezed times, a big budget overhaul of a property may not be realistic, so that loft conversion or extension may have to wait a little longer. There are, however, a few simple improvements that will give your home a real facelift at little cost.
A good starting point is the kitchen: if you’re selling any time soon, it’s likely to be the first place that potential buyers notice. Even if your budget won’t stretch to a completely redesigned kitchen with new units and appliances, simply changing the doors on the cupboards and replacing the work surfaces can convincingly create a modernised feel, especially if you can throw in a new sink and up-to-date taps.
New wall tiles and hard floor covering will also create the illusion of a revamped room. If you’re feeling adventurous, new lighting will add real panache – although approach a qualified electrician to install them safely.
Just finish off by practicing (or acquiring) your painting and decorating skills – a new coat of paint works wonders in lifting a room out of tired blandness into clean elegance.
